Euthanizing practice at heart of Wiles trial

Wednesday

Jun 20, 2007 at 4:04 AM

By CHRISTINE L. PRATT

Staff Writer

WOOSTER -- Before a crowd of about 100, a veterinarian testified killing piglets by blunt force trauma is an acceptable practice, but euthanizing sick or injured sows by hanging is not among the recommended options within the industry.

Testimony of Donald Sanders, DVM, came midway through the first day of a criminal trial in Wayne County Municipal Court in which Creston area hog farm owner Ken Wiles and two others are charged with animal cruelty.

Ken Wiles, 54, of 1187 W. Steiner Road, Creston, is owner of the West Steiner Road farm. He is charged with two counts of cruelty to animals alleging he deprived the animals of veterinary care, food and water.

Joseph Wiles, 22, of the same address, is general manager of the farm and is charged with six counts of cruelty to animals alleging he carried the animals in a cruel or inhumane manner, he tortured, beat, mutilated or killed animals and denied them medical care, food and water. Two of the charges, alleging he needlessly killed animals and beat others to death with a hammer, were dismissed.

Employee Dusty Stroud, 18, of 814 McKinley St., Wooster, also is charged with two counts of cruelty to animals alleging he beat and tortured animals.

Sanders, a veterinarian and associate professor at Ohio State University, testified he visited the farm on Nov. 9 and reviewed video taken at the farm in February and March 2006.

Of greatest concern, Sanders testified, was it appeared farm personnel hesitated too long before deciding to euthanize fatally ill hogs, which could amount to animal cruelty. But he said his report makes no mention of "animal cruelty," focusing more on issues of animal "welfare" and "wellbeing."

He said he discussed the practice of euthanasia by hanging with Ken Wiles, who said that had been the practice at the farm for 40 years, and he shared his belief Utah still executes people by hanging.

Sanders testified he told Ken Wiles hanging was not a practice recommended by organizations that attempt to ensure the process is as quick and painless as possible. He said after reviewing the video, he found the practice offensive.

He testified, though, euthanasia is a routine part of animal husbandry.

After his visit to the farm, he noted the animals were fed and had a roof over their head, but some issues needed to be changed.

No animals were removed from the property after Sanders' inspection.

Although it may appear shocking, beating a piglet on a concrete floor, as viewed in the video, is an appropriate means of killing a pig under 7 days old, Sanders said.

Throwing pigs into a cart for transport, Sanders said, was "excessive" and cruel.

John Knoldt, whose legal name until less than a year ago was Chris Parrett, filmed activity at the farm as an undercover animal rights investigator after a farm employee contacted the Humane Farming Association, headquartered in California.

Between early February and mid-March 2006, Knoldt worked on the farm and selectively filmed acts of perceived cruelty via a button hole camera. He reviewed the video daily, compiling a log to accompany each video file, he testified.

In court on Tuesday, he was disguised in a fake beard and mustache to hide his identity from courtroom cameras.

When he was hired by Ken Wiles, Knoldt said he used his real name, but gave a false address and lied about his relationship with the complaining employee, who he told Ken Wiles was his second cousin.

He said he was not under contract with HFA, but testified he submitted his video and field notes to the organization, which paid him $400 a week.

He filmed farm workers tossing pigs, hanging hogs and beating piglets to death while working at the farm.

He testified seeing several sick sows, which he claimed were emaciated because they were unable to reach food or water. He said he did not know if anyone hand-fed the ill animals when he was not at the farm.

The sow he saw hanged by a logging chain from a front-end loader struggled for 4-5 minutes before becoming still.

On Oct. 12 he returned without permission from the Wileses, and videotaped conditions at four farm locations.

Also on the Nov. 9 inspection of the farm, Joyce Hyatt, an officer with the Wayne County Humane Society, said she had concerns about the care of the animals and maintenance of the property.

Most notably, she testified, she suspected one of the sows had a broken back and felt some of the piglets had been starved.

Hyatt is certified in cat, dog and horse euthanasia.

Also testifying on Tuesday were Wayne County Sheriff's detectives Mike Maxwell and Lt. Kurt Garrison. The trial resumes this morning with the start of the defense's case.

Reporter Christine L. Pratt can be reached at (330) 287-1643 or e-mail cpratt@the-daily-record.com.

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